Elevator car



D- E. CON RY ELEVATOR CAR June 29, 1965 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31,1962 INVENTOR DALE E. CONRY ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 D. E. CONRY ELEVATORCAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1962 .m\ Q a 3 2. 51: 3 ,1: i .UWN#M .wmmmdlufllllmrmwikmflhiilhnr. .1 flrii ii ==EE ZZZ/A INVENTOR. DALEE. CONRY 11 9 ew mm I his ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 D. E. CONRY 3,191,721

ELEVATOR CAR Filed Aug. 31, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W a; FIG 4 57 52 l XL-':." ,'lr;2 n I l 82 8? I 58 5 x R n H 50 g SOL MOTOR 1 L bDISPLACEMENT I I W 67 55 CUT-OFF rfww so| j 68 FIG. 5 M I;

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his ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,191,721 ELEVATOR CAR Dale E. Conry,Aurora, Colo, assignor to Dover Corporation, Memphis, Tenn., acorporation of Delaware Filed Aug 31, 1962, Ser. No. 220,726 6 Claims.(Cl. 187-1) The invention relates in general to elevator cars withmovable ceilings and, more particularly, to power operated movableceilings.

In relatively medium size or small size apartment houses, for example,high installation and maintenance costs have usually prohibited theinclusion of a separate freight or service elevator in addition to theregular pas senger elevator necessary for servicing the upper floors.These passenger elevators have usually been designed to the normaldimensions preferred by the tenants, being of a height of approximatelyseven and one-half feet.

On the other hand, many items of construction equipment or pieces offurniture such as long modern couches and other household furnishings,for example, are of such length as to prohibit their being carriedinside an ordinary passenger elevator. In such cases, it has beencustomary to either take the passenger car out of regular service andplace the elongated item on the roof of the car for transport to thedesired floor, or undertake the time consuming task of erecting ahazardous hoist outside of the building for transporting the elongateditem to the desired upper floor. These external hoists are not onlyhazardous to passersby, but also endanger the furniture beingtransported. Furthermore, in addition to the risks inherent with respectto both personnel and equipment in either of these operations, thesemoving and hoisting methods waste the time and effort of highly skilled,and usually expensive, moving crews.

The present invention overcomes many of these disadvantages by providingan elevator car with a power operated movable ceiling which is capableof transporting many elongated items not possible heretofore.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, theelevator operator may insert a key into an appropriate control panel, toenergize, for example, a power operated actuating means such as a smallelectric motor located above the cab adapted to raise the movableceiling through a series of control cables, vertical guides, and a gearreduction mechanism to a desired position wherein the elevator car canaccommodate long pieces of furniture and equipment for transportation tothe upper floors. Thus the invention provides a safe and efiicientsolution to the vertical transportation problems inherent with oversizeditems without requiring the high additional expense of installing aseparate freight elevator car.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may behad to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying figures of the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic'view of an exemplary embodiment of a movableceiling portion of an elevator car as viewed from an upper rearwardposition and constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in cross section taken along the line 22shown in FIG. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the movable ceiling lockingmechanism of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along the line 3-3 in FIG.2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and 7 FIG. 4 is a circuitdiagram of an exemplary electrical system for operating the movableceiling, in accordance with the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a hoistway 10 having apair of conventional rails 11 is positioned in a suitable conventionalmanner intermediate a plurality of floors (not shown). An elevator carhaving a conventional car frame 12 and a passenger carrying enclosure orcab 13 is adapted to travel in the usual manner in the hoistway 10between selected floors under the control of a conventional elevatorcontrol system and drive mechanism (not shown), in accordance withtechniques well-known in the elevator art and not forming any part ofthe present invention.

The interior side walls 14 of the cab 13, which may be fashioned in anysuitable manner, are of a height deemed suitable for passenger elevatorservice. For example, as stated above, these walls 14 may extend to apoint seven and one-half feet above the elevator floor. Transversebracing elements 15 are connected across the upper extremities of two ofthe side walls 14 to provide support for the four upper walls or canopy17 within which a movable ceiling 18 is controllably positioned.

Mounted above the upper side walls 17 is an upper horizontal platform 32which encloses the top of the elevator cab or enclosure 13. The platform32 is positioned directly above the horizontal movable ceiling 18 anddetermines the upper limit of its movement.

Guide means are provided for the movable ceiling 18, which include fourvertical guide rods 22 bolted to the platform 32 and extendingvertically downwardly from points adjacent each of the four corners ofthe platform 32. The lower portions of the rods 22 pass through rubbercushioning rings or grommets 21 mounted in apertures in the transversebracing elements 15. The rings 21 serve to cushion the return of themovable ceiling 18 to its lowered passenger cab position.

Four traveling slides 20, such as nylon tubular slides, and four spacers19 are, firmly attached to the exterior side of the movable ceiling 18and are positioned in a horizontal plane with each of the four guiderods 22 passing through a respective vertical aperture in each slide 20.Thus the movable ceiling 18 is guided along a fixed path from a loweredpassenger position where it rests on the cushioning rings 21, to aselected raised freight position below the upper platform 32.

The motion of the movable ceiling 18 is controlled by a plurality ofcontrol cables 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d, each of which is attached in asuitable manner to the four spacers 19 at the four corners of theceiling 18. Cable 24a passes from the movable ceiling 18 up to arotatable sheave assembly 33:: which is mounted on the platform 32. Atthis point the direction of the cable 24a is changed to a horizontalplane wherein it proceeds to a double sheave assembly 36 and is thenturned in an upwardly inclined direction by a rotating sheave 31.

Cable 24b also proceeds from a second corner of the movable ceiling 1Supwardly to a rotatable sheave assembly 33b mounted on the platform 32and then to the double sheave assembly where it is turned into the sameupwardly inclined direction as the cable 24a by a rotating sheave 35.The cables 24a and 24b proceed in a parallel direction from the sheaves31 and 35 and are joined at a suitable juncture element 42 to a singlecontrol cable 24ab.

The control cable 2451b is wound around a sheave 33 and thereafterproceeds upwardly at an inclined angle to form a loop about a sheave 45rotatably mounted on an actuating arm 48.

Control cables 24c and 24d, likewise, proceed vertically upward fromrespective spacers 19 located adjacent the third and fourth corners ofthe movable ceiling 18. Control cables 24c and 24d both turn aboutrotatable sheave assemblies 330 and 3301 in a horizontal plane above theupper platform 32, and are then directed toward a double sheave assembly41 where the control cable 240 is turned da about a rotatable sheave andthe control cable 242: is turned about a sheave 36. Thereafter, both ofthese control cables proceed in a parallel direction to the sheaves 39and 49, respectively, and to respective loops about sheaves 46 and47'mounted on the actuating arm 43.

The actuating arm 48 is fixed rigidly to the outer rotating plate of asuitable gear reduction means 49 connected to a conventional electricmotor 59 mounted on the upper horizontal cross beam of the car frame 12.

The electric motor is energized through a pair of electrical leads 52which pass along the car frame to a passenger operated control means ona control panel 80 in the enclosure wall 14 (FIG. 2). The circuit foractivating the electric motor 50, illustrated in FIG. 4, may be closedwhen a key is inserted by the attendant or other passenger in a keyslotS1 and turned to the right key position 83 to energize the electricmotor 59 by a suitable external electrical source 51, to raise themovable ceiling 13 from its lowered passenger cab position to a raisedfreight cab position.

In operation, the high rotational speed of the electric motor 5% isreduced through the gear reduction means 49 to such an extent that theactuating arm 48 slowly rotates through an angle of 180 to fully raisethe ceiling 1%. i /hen the actuating arm 43 is in the phantom positionshown in F162, the circuit is opened by a conventional mechanicaldisplacement cut-off means 53 and the electric motor 5% is automaticallycut off.

During the rotation of the actuating arm 48 through its 180 cycle, thecontrol cables 2451b, 24c and 24d are pulled through their respectivesheaves for a total linear displacement of the control cables ofapproximately two feet, for example. This linear displacement of thecontrol cables is experienced equally at all points along their length.Thus an equal upwardly directed force is applied to all four corners ofthe movable ceiling 18 to move it upwardly. Stability is provided to theceiling 18 during this upward movement by the four rigid guide rods 22.

Locking mechanisms 55 and 56, which are conventional spring actuated andsolenoid released mechanisms, are attached firmly to the movable ceilingat points midway along its front and rearward sides. When the movableceiling 18 reaches its raised freight position, a springbiased detent 57in each of the locking mechanisms 55 and 55 engages a brace 53 attachedto the canopy 17, as shown in FIG. 4. As the ceiling 18 moves upwardly,the detent 57 rides over the brace 58 in opposition to a biasing orcompression spring 59 to lock the movable ceiling 18 in its raisedfreight position.

Immediately after the locking operation takes place the actuating arm 43reaches its upper cut-elf position as determined by cut-oil m ans 53 andthe motor 50 is deenergized to terminate the upward movement of ceiling13.

Once the movable ceiling 13 is locked in the raised freight position,the key inserted in keyslot 8?. may be allowed to remain in the rightposition 83 or may be moved to the initial center position.

When it is desired to once again convert the elevator fo passenger use,the movable ceiling may be automatically or manually lowered.

The ceiling may be lowered automatically by inserting the control key inthe keyslot 81 in the control panel 89 and rotating the key to the leftor lowering position 82. As shown in FIG. 4, this left position closesthe circuit including the solenoids of the locking mechanisms 55 and 56to pull in the respective detents 5'? and permit'the movable ceiling 18to slowly descend in response to its own weight to the lowered passengercab position.

The gear reduction means 49 permits the slow clockwise rotation ofactuating arm 48 through an angle of 180, until the arm is once more inits initial position, as shown in FIG. 2. The control cables 24a, 24b,Ede and 2441 move along the same paths shown in FIG. 1, as

each corner of the movable ceiling l3 pulls downwardly on its respectivecable with an equal force. As in the operation for raising the ceiling,the guide rods 22 provide stability and determine the path of theceiling 18.

An alternative mechanical method for lowering the ceiling 18 from theraised freight cab position may also be included, preferably as anauxiliary or emergency procedure. By individually rotating individuallinkage rods '75 with a key inserted into respective protruding elements7%, the operator may manually cause the mechanical retraction of thedetents 57 to release the locking mechanisms and 56 and permit themovable ceiling 18 to descend in response to its own weight.

Alternatively, the electric motor 50 may be of a conventional reversibletype and the lowering of the ceiling 13 may be accomplished under thecontrol of the motor 550 by the attendant selectively operating thepassenger operated control means to appropriately energize the motor 59in accordance with the intended direction of movement of the ceiling 18.

In some cases it may be desirable to permit the attendant or otherpassenger in the elevator car to raise the movable ceiling 18 only theamount necessary to accommodate the particular item being transportedand not to the fullv raised position. This may be accomplished by usinga suitable self-locking gear reduction means $59 which will hold themovable ceiling in any position at which the electric motor 55 isale-energized. This selflocking gear version of the movable ceilingwould not, of course, need the spring locking mechanisms 55 and 56 tohold the ceiling in place at its fully raised position since, here too,the actuating arm 48 could support the eilings full weight.

Furthermore, due to the cranking action of the actuating arm 43, it maynot be necessary to. reverse the electric motor 59 in order to lower theceiling 18 from its uppermost position. Since the elevator ceiling willmove downwardly in approximately the same manner regardless of thedirection in which the actuating arm 48 I0- tates, the arm may continueto proceed in a forward counterclockwise direction from this upperposition at 189 degrees of revolution, with the result that it will passthrough a complete 36-0 degrees of revolution.

Thus there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an apparatusfor converting a conventional passenger elevator cab into an enclosureof much greater vertical clearance capable of conveying elongatedobjects such as couches, often found in the modern home, by aselectively actuated power opera-ted means under the control of anattendant or other passenger. At the same time this invention allows thepassenger elevator cabs to remain psychologically and aestheticallypleasing to the tenants and guests who use the elevator as a passengervehicle.

It will be understood by workers in the elevator art that the abovedescribed embodiment is meant to be merely exemplary and that it issusceptible of modifica tion and variation without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example, many different forms ofconventional motion translating mechanisms and techniques may besubstituted for the disclosed exemplary control cable system, and thepassenger operated control means may comprise one or more suitablyconnected pushbuttons. Therefore, the invention is not deemed to belimited except as defined by the depending claims.

I claim:

1. An elevator car adapted to travel in a hoistway between a pluralityof floors, comprising a car frame, a passenger carrying enclosuremounted Within said frame, a movable ceiling for said enclosure,selectively actuated power operated means including motor means formoving said movable ceiling between different vertically displacedpositions to vary the vertical clearance of said an closure and lockingmeans operably coupled with said motor means for locking said movableceiling when said motor means is not being operated.

2. An elevator car adapted to travel in a hoistway between a pluralityof floors as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor means is operatedfrom within said passenger carrying enclosure.

3. An elevator car adapted to travel in a hoistway between a pluralityof floors as defined in claim 1, comprising passenger operated controlmeans in said enclosure for actuating said power operated means.

4. An elevator car adapted to travel in a hoistway between a pluralityof fioors as defined in claim 3, wherein said power operated means ismounted on said frame.

5. An elevator car as claimed in claim 4, comprising guide means forguiding the movement of said movable ceiling between said differentvertically displaced positions.

6. An elevator car as claimed in claim 1, comprising displacementcut-off means connected in operative relation with said motor means fords-energizing said motor means when said movable ceiling reaches apredetermined position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 382,487 5/88Moore 187-1 1,101,102 6/14 Steedman 187-76 1,291,138 1/19 Reed 254-l1,751,644 3/30 McKenzie 187-5 1,960,283 5/34 Walker 18.78.59 2,150,6283/ 39 Mizer 187-859 2,603,487 7/52 Scheppe 254- X 2,925,150 2/60 Sanders18776 FOREIGN PATENTS 959,758 3/57 Germany.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, RALPH H. BRAUNER,

ERNEST A. FALLER, In, Examiners.

1. AN ELEVATOR CAR ADAPTED TO TRAVEL IN A HOISTWAY BETWEEN A PLURALITYOF FLOORS, COMPRISING A CAR FRAME, A PASSENGER CARRYING ENCLOSUREMOUNTED WITHIN SAID FRAME, A MOVABLE CEILING FOR SAID ENCLOSURE,SELECTIVELY ACTUATED POWER OPERATED MEANS INCLUDING MOTOR MEANS FORMOVING SAID MOVABLE CEILING BETWEEN DIFFERENT VERTICALLY DISPLACEDPOSITIONS TO VARY THE VERTICAL CLEARANCE OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND LOCKINGMEANS OPERABLE COUPLED WITH SAID MOTOR MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID MOVABLECEILING WHEN SAID MOTOR MEANS IS NOT BEING OPERATED.